Sustainable Ambition Forum - 6.27.23
Ambition isn’t time-bound
In my first summer workshop as part of my Behind the Book series, a friend shared how ambition is viewed as being for the young. And yet, as she enters her next career act stepping away from a successful career and into something new, she is still ambitious and doesn’t believe in the limiting societal view that we can’t be ambitious at any age.
There’s truth to this societal view, and yet there is evidence all around us of people who have achieved at older ages. The late Madeline Albright called herself a “late bloomer,” having found her way to politics at the age of 39, ultimately becoming the first female Secretary of State and continuing to be active in her 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House and the highest ranking female politician in American history, first became a Congresswoman at the age of 47. Martha Stewart wrote her first cookbook in her early 40’s. Even actresses have found success later in life, unusual in an industry that rewards youth. Helen Mirren is getting better roles now in her 60’s and 70’s than she did in her youth, garnering an academy award in 2007 for “The Queen” at the age of 61.
This month I was inspired by my two podcast guests, a married couple D'Arcy Webb and Charlie Gilbert. They built careers in the theater and arts world for many decades and are now in their late 60’s. They are an inspiration! In our conversations you can hear what sustained ambition can look like and how important it is to sustain ourselves as part of the journey. They, too, are proof that ambition isn’t time-bound.
And if you want more evidence, listen in to the Wiser Than Me podcast with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She’s interviewed impressive women who are inspirations on what it means to live a long, well-lived, impactful life at any age. You can hear from Jane Fonda, Carol Burnett, Amy Tan, Isabel Allende, Fran Lebowitz, Darlene Love, and more. Age isn’t keeping these women from being ambitious or living full lives.
Speaking to D'Arcy and Charlie also made me think of the Right Time pillar of Sustainable Ambition, which I’ll be sharing more about in my upcoming workshop on Tuesday, July 11th (details below!). Right Time considers life and work together and is about choosing where we want to put our attention based on what’s personally important in our life and work now. It has us consider planning in arcs and thinking about horizons.
I had the chance to see a Georgia O'Keefe exhibit in New York City back in April (picture above of her work), and it made me think of this concept, too—how artists have different creative periods (e.g., like Picasso and his Blue and Rose periods, his Cubism period, and so on). As I look back on my life and work now at this stage, I can see such periods or arcs (e.g., my early athletic and career exploration period, my settling down and career ambition period, and now my creative work and service period). How can we plan our arcs with more awareness and intention so we can do so with both ambition and sustainability and a bit less angst?
Ambitions can ebb and flow. That’s why I think it’s helpful to view ambition as not being time-bound. It’s never too late to ask, “What is it time for now?,” and go after what you want.
With that, what I know it’s time for now is summer. Happy summering!
Kathy
Come Behind the Book with
My Second Summer Workshop!
I’m continuing to host FREE workshops to put Sustainable Ambition principles into practice and test the content I’m developing for the book I’m writing.
We’re ready for the 2nd workshop, which will be held: Tuesday, July 11 at 12-1:30 pm PT / 3-4:30 pm ET.
I’ll offer a new lens of Sustainable Ambition and then share tools around one of the pillars, Right Time. We’ll explore how to think about your next life and work arc using a Horizon Map, how to navigate tensions across life and work ambitions, and how to be firm and flex to prioritize what’s important in your life.
I’d love to have you join me! Get it on the calendar here.
Can’t attend this workshop, but want to be involved in the book journey? Join in here.
A reminder that the workshops are FREE and in exchange I would simply love your feedback with a short survey and feedback in the session to help me ensure the content is helpful and usable for yourself and others. 🙏
I hope to see you soon!
The Sustainable Ambition Podcast Digest: June
Join me for conversations with experts, authors, and friends on what it means to live with Sustainable Ambition.
Ambition isn’t just for the young. In these conversations with husband and wife power couple D'Arcy Webb and Charles Gilbert, who who harken from the performance and creative world, we learn that we can be ambitious at any age, if we so choose.
🎙️ E107: Be Brave, Use Your Voice, and Step Into The Light with D’Arcy Webb
“I wanted to work smarter, not harder. And I wanted to do something that I never thought I could ever do.”
Hear D’Arcy talk about what it’s like to be ambitious at this stage of her life and how she’s able to sustain her drive. She also talks about the power of using your voice, no matter your age, and how stepping into that kind of power can change your life.
Listen on your favorite player here or on our website here.
🎙️ E108: Nurturing and Sustaining Creative Ambition with Charles Gilbert
“It’s not retirement. Maybe it’s the next chapter in my story.”
In this episode, Charlie talks about sustainable creative habits, how retirement has opened up new possibilities for his work, and his big ambitions for this chapter of his life.
Listen on your favorite player here or on our website here.
🎙️ E109 (Coming W 7/5!): Performing and Performance: A Call To Be Our Best Self (A Solo Episode)
Speaking with D'Arcy and Charlie inspired me to think about the topic of performing and performance. The terms hold a lot of baggage, but they can be inspiring. What if performing and performance can be a call to stretch into our full possible selves?
You can also find the podcast, subscribe, and listen on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, and more here.
The Monthly Progress Practice: June
At the beginning of each year, we share our Monthly Progress Practice. Progress is made through small, consistent action. We offer a monthly practice of small actions or inquiries to inspire positive change this year. Practice makes progress.
Our guidance for June: Connect. Personal relationships are central to being happy and are helpful for motivation and reaching our ambitions. Be proactive—reach out and make a connection. And when you make a connection, focus on that rather than being concerned about making an impression.
“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.”
— Paulo Coelho